I want to begin by sincerely thanking you for the warm welcome I have received as your relieving principal. It has been a pleasure meeting so many students, staff, and families, and feeling a strong sense of community here at Oakdale.

The first three weeks of Term 4 have been very positive and settled. Our students are thriving in a vibrant learning environment that nurtures their potential across all domains—creative, physical, social-emotional, and intellectual. This holistic approach helps our children develop well-rounded skills and strengths, and I am proud of the opportunities we offer every day.

We are also pleased to welcome some new students to Oakdale this term and look forward to supporting them and their families as they join our community.

I would like to also raise that there has been some after-hours vandalism on school grounds since the holidays. While the impact of these incidents affects school resources and ultimately our students’ learning environment, we are committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming space for all. We encourage community members to stay vigilant and report any incidents to help us protect our school. Please contact school security on 1300 88 00 21 or you can email the school address oakdale-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

This week I had the privilege of attending the NSW Public Principals’ Association State Conference. The keynote speakers, including Jana Pittman and Cathy Freeman, along with impressive program showcases, highlighted the importance of nurturing students’ diverse potentials. I am excited to see these areas continue to develop here at Oakdale, with our school’s commitment to holistic growth soon to be showcased on our website, launching on Day 1 of Term 1, 2026.

Finally, today is a very special day here at Oakdale, it is World Teachers’ Day. I want to acknowledge our dedicated staff whose hard work and professionalism ensure every student receives high-quality education and care. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to excellence.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to provide an inspiring and secure learning environment for all students at Oakdale. Here’s to a wonderful term of learning and growing together.

Warm regards,

Nathan Vanderwey

Relieving Principal

Picton Show

Last weekend, the following students' artwork was displayed in the pavilion at the Picton Show, alongside 66 colouring-in competition entries. Congratulations to the students who had their paintings, drawings, pets, or decorated rocks entered:

KH: Evie, Hudson, Willow C, Sophia, Tess, Harley
1SA: Mitchell, Cxian, Oscar, Mevlude, Isla D, Zoe, Isla S
2N: Saydi, Eleanor, Jasmine
3/4M: Taylor, Skylah, Ayannah
4/5M: Finn
5/6T: Willow

All students who did not place received a Highly Commended award for their participation, along with a McDonald's meal voucher.

A special mention goes to our prize winners:

Archie W. – 1st Prize, 5-7 years colouring-in competition. His prize included free entry tickets for him and his family.
Oscar – 1st Prize, Pet Rock competition
Saydi – 2nd Prize, Decorated Rock (Junior category)
Finn – 2nd Prize, Decorated Rock (Primary category)

Well done to all our talented students!

Mrs Smith

Regional Primary School Public Speaking Grand Final

Wishing Finn the best of luck as he prepares for the Regional Primary School Public Speaking Grand Final in Week 4! We’re proud of your hard work and can’t wait to see you shine. Go Finn!

Jump Rope for Heart

What a spectacular day it was on Tuesday 9 September for our Jump Rope for Heart 'Jump Off'!

We are thrilled to announce that our school raised an incredible $4,925 for Jump Rope for Heart. A huge thank you to all students and families for your enthusiastic support. Students who raised funds will receive their prizes and certificates next Tuesday. Well done to everyone involved!

This was the first time the program has run at OPS during my time here, and I sincerely appreciate all of you who encouraged skipping throughout the term, making it fun and engaging for our students.

Thank you once again for your support and enthusiasm.

Mrs Sylwestrzak

HPGE Art Group

HPGE art students have worked hard to complete their artworks by the deadline! A big congratulations to everyone for their enthusiasm and dedication in creating these beautiful pieces!

Road Safety Awareness

At Oakdale Public School, we take road safety very seriously and are committed to ensuring our students are vigilant and responsible pedestrians. Recently, we conducted road safety lessons across all classrooms to raise awareness about the importance of being cautious near roads and using crossings correctly. Through these lessons, students learned practical strategies to stay safe, including following road signals and always staying alert in traffic environments.

We encourage our families to please reinforce these important safety messages at home to help maintain the highest standards of safety for our children both on their way to and from school and in the wider community.

2026 Planning

As we plan for the upcoming 2026 school year, we kindly ask that you inform the school as soon as possible if your child will not be returning in 2026.

Additionally if your child is having an extended holiday and will be returning later than February 2 please advise the office.

This information is important to help us with our enrolment planning and ensure a smooth start to the new school year for all students.

Please notify the school office by email including details of your child’s last day or expected return date.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

School Bytes App

We will continue to share important updates and information with parents and carers through the School Bytes platform. To stay informed about all the latest news at our school, please download the School Bytes app. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school office. Stay connected with us!

Upcoming Events

Dates to Remember

Event Flyers

Sports News

Koori Knockout Netball

Emerson had an amazing weekend at the Koori Knockout netball tournament, playing as goal shooter for most games. She scored lots of goals, including one game where she scored over 10 goals! Their defence was so strong in one match that the opposing team didn’t score a single goal!

Emerson played alongside girls aged 10-12 who share her culture. She said, "It was nice to play netball with my friends and meet new people who share the same culture as me." With 10 games played and only one loss, her team proudly finished 2nd overall in a weekend full of great netball, culture, friends, and family. Well done, Emerson!

Community Services

Inspire Program Australia - Before and After School Care

Our Inspire Oakdale centre is our very first onsite centre, and is located within Oakdale Public School. The centre’s program is run from a versatile hall with a large garage door that opens up, extending the space to include the school’s playground area. We also have access to the sports shed, field, basketball court and the COLA area – where we enjoy playing tons of outdoor sports and games!

"I Strive"

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